Anonymous Tip Leads to Arrest in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash

A Nashua woman was charged Thursday in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident on West Hollis Street last month.

Cara Smith, 39, of 6 Satin Avenue turned herself in to members of the Nashua Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division at 4:26 p.m. Thursday on an active arrest warrant charging her with one count of conduct after an accident, a Class B felony.

The accident occurred on Feb. 23 around 7:20 p.m. in the area of West Hollis and Pine streets. Robert Derome, 63, of Nashua was found unresponsive on the side of the road. He was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy performed at the Office of the Medical Examiner determined that Derome suffered severe injuries to his head and pelvis that were believed to have been caused by being struck by a motor vehicle. The operator of the vehicle fled the scene.

Nashua Police Detectives were able to identify a dark colored sport utility vehicle through surveillance footage as being possibly being involved in this incident. They then received an anonymous tip identifying Smith as the possible driver involved.

Detectives learned that Smith owned a dark colored Chevy Trailblazer. They conducted surveillance in the area of Smith’s home and subsequently stopped her driving the Trailblazer. The vehicle had damage to it consistent with it being involved in the accident. The Trailblazer was subsequently seized. Detectives were able to gather further information leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant.

Smith is being held at the Nashua Police Department on $50,000 cash bail and will be arraigned in the 9th Circuit Court, Nashua Division on Friday if she is unable to post bail Thursday evening.